Il-2 and Glider towing operations
 

Lately I realized that it is possible to tow a Glider in IL-2.
The big question is:

How can I release the Glider manually?

How can I plan a mission for A.I. in FMB with an automatic Glider release at a desired location?

I'm not sure if there is a flyable aircraft that you can tow a glider with? If there is then I expect it will be released using either the Attach/Detach key or one of the Bomb keys found in the Controls section of the game. You may need to assign a key to the first one I mentioned.

This is quite simple. Make the waypoint where you want the glider release to occur into a Ground attack point. Note that you need to make the first waypoint as follows. Place the tow-plane's 1st waypoint where you want it, then place the glider's near that. Use the Set button from the glider to attach it to the tow-plane.

I hope this is helpful

B

Hi
Depending on if you use mods etc.

Unfortunately over the years and different patches the behaviour of gliders has changed somewhat from thier original intent and ai behaviour.
However theere still some fun to be had with them.

I asked for glider release key along time ago and was told its not neccessary as glider releases on waypoint !!!
Although it never does for me online.

Towing planes

C47 tows 1 G11/1 Me321
Pe8 tows 3 G11/1 Me321
Bf110 G2 1 G11/1Me321
He111 z 1 G11/1 Me321
He1112/6 1 G11/1 Me321

You can sucessfuly ground start the He111 with the Me321 in tow it uses rocket assitance on takeoff and drops the canisters by parachute.

Off line if you tow a glider in the He111's fly straight down the waypoint and it will release at the first waypoint.

Online Coop you have to roll the He111 to get the glider to detach as theres no release button.

Good luck

This is not entirely true. Turning a waypoint into a GA waypoint, then the glider will release at the waypoint BEFORE it and glide towards the GA WP, somewhat.

As AI approaches a waypoint you'll notice it turning one way or another as it approaches it. When it reaches the waypoint it'll reset and steer towards the next waypoint. This behavior causes the glider to be released off the correct direction. Placing waypoints, you can account for this behavior and place them in a way to use this to your advantage.

The tricky part is judging your distances, i think it's a 10:1 ratio. Meaning for every 1000 meters of altitude (AGL), release 10000 meters out. But don't take my word for it.

Almost any aircraft can tow a glider, except the Ju52 - it'll explode. And humans can takeoff with them.

Ah, ok, I stand corrected :) I will have to go and actually make a glider mission and take a closer look!

Still, that's the advantage with posting this kind of question here - eventually the correct answer will appear and everyone learns something new.

<S>

B

Thanks for the interest in this topic!
Meanwhile a comrade of my squad found out something very helpful that wasn't mentioned in here so far. I still have to test it but I sounds very useful and I guess it will work (it worked on his machine)

Quote:

Press Tab (for the wingman communication menu), then press 6 (Squadron), then press 8 (Tactical) and then press 1 (Break). The glider will detach immediately and confirm that it has detached. It will also keep altitude and its last heading much better.

Please share your experience with this method.

Absolutely, and I hope you don't think I was trying to be snooty. Just wanted to expand on the thread a bit.

~SALUT~

Raven

From a COOP recreating Arnhem events, made a couple years ago

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...oparnhem15.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...oparnhem09.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...oparnhem10.jpg

And they almost land within the planned drop points

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...oparnhem17.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...oparnhem18.jpg

Great pics!
What happens in the second one?
Paratroopers?

Thats the 5x Cargo load out option for C-47, found that the 18x Para's caused my old PC to completely freeze up :) .
If I remember correctly in this mission there was 8x Stirlings [Pe-8] with 3x Horsa/Hamil ? [G-11] along with 16x C-47 escorted by 8x P38J [player] being jumped by 3x [2x Bf109].
It did take a number of hours before the gliders landed within 5 km of projected target.